BLACK TEAS. Bohea and Ankay Bohea. These are the commonest sort of black teas, but the Bohea is superior to the Ankay Bohea, the first bringing from 12 to 14 tales the pecul, and the latter only 8 or 10 tales per pecul. Bohea, Congo, and Ankay Congo. These are the next qualities, the best, or Bohea Congo, bringing from 18 to 22 tales the pecul, and the Ankay Congo from 15 to 18 tales. Bohca Campoi and Ankay Compoi. The next qualities will sell as follows: Bohea Campoi 24 to 27 tales per pecul, and the Ankay Campoi at 22 to 25 tales per pecul. Bohea Souchong and Ankay Souchong.* The first sells at from 26 to 46 tales per pecul, and the second at from 20 to 32 tales per pecul. There are, however, some qualities of Bohea Souchong of particular flavor, which brings as high as 60, 80, and 100 tales the pecul; and also some of the Ankay Souchong of very superior sinell, &c. bringing from 40 to 50 tales per pecul: Those last mentioned teas have distinct names, such as, Fa heung, Teha Powchong, Teha, Sun, Chay Teha, Leung thune Teha, &c. &c. &c. Bohea and Ankay are the names of two districts of the same province, but the tea of the former is in much higher estimation than the latter, and always sells dearer at the Canton market. Another quality of black teas are, Bohea Pecko and Ankay Pecko. These are the young leaves gathered just when they begin to push forth, having still the white down upon them, which have been believed, erroneously, in Europe, to be the flowers of the tea tree. This sort of tea sells, at Canton, from 40 to 120 tales the pecul, and even higher prices have been given for the Bohea *There are some qualities of Ankay Souchong that sell much lower, some even as cheap as 10 to 12 tales per pecul, and from that to 18 tales, in proportion to the quantity of white leaves found in it, that gives it a higher flavor. sort, when the leaves are all very long and covered with white down.* Black teas naturally, and also from the manner in which they are cured, are more wholesome than the green; they are much more esteemed by the Chinese, and the best sort fetch the highest prices in the Canton market. They are dried on bamboo baskets, whereas the fine green teas are dried on copper sheets or plates, and being rolled while wet with rice water, are certainly liable to produce verdigrease. The green teas are also unwholesome from being often coloured with Prussian blue or smalts, and are likewise extremely astringent and corrosive. The Chinese, I observed, very seldom drink of them, and then excessively weak, and most of those whom I conversed with on the subject, assured me they affected the nerves violently, and therefore very few persons in China ever made use of them. The wholesomest green teas are those of the most common qualities, such as Hyson Skin and Singlo. GREEN TEAS. Hyson, and Singlo Hyson, follow in succession thus: Hyson Chulan and Singlo Chulan. These qualities generally sell for 1 tale to 2 tales the catty, according to goodness; but are oftener sold by the box, at the rate of 16 to 18 dollars for 10 catties, and 24 to 41 for the double box. In this is also included the price of the box, that is always of black Nankin lacker, inlaid with mother of pearl. The very best Hyson Chulan, treble flowered, is worth 40 dollars the large box. It seems to be the only green tea the Chinese drink, and they use it but seldom. Hyson Gomee is another quality of fine Hyson, that sells as dear as the Chulan. The Chulan is always dear or cheap in proportion to the number of times it has been scented with Chulan flowers. There is the single, double, and treble scented. * Of the very first sort of this tea, there is rarely more than three or four peculs brought annually to the Canton market. Some of the finest of it is brought to Ihiachla, on the borders of Siberian Tartary, and sold to the Russian traders who carry it over land to Russia. It sells in Moscow and St. Petersburg, at from 30 to 50 roubles the pound. Those of commerce of the green teas are as follows: The first sells at from 50 to 60 tales per real, and the second at 44 to 52, according to the plenty or scarcity and the demand. Hyson, Gunpowder or Imperial, Singlo Gunpowder or Imperial from 30 to 120 tales per pecul-Ş. G. from 70 to 85: of the Singlo Gunpowder, there are some very inferior sorts, which sell as low as 58 to 60 tales per pecul. Hyson, Young Hyson, and Singlo Hyson, from 30 to 40 tales per pecul-S. H. 28 to 36 tales per pecul. Hyson Skin of Hyson, and Hyson Skin of Singlo, from 26 to 30 tales per pecul-H. S. S. 22 to 26 tales per pecul. Good Singlo that is hardly inferior to what is called the Singlo Skin tea, sells at 22 to 25 tales per pecul. This is the lowest quality of green tea, unless it be a tea made at Canton to imitate the Singlo Skin, which is a mixture of very bad materials. It sells lower, as is the case indeed with all the teas I have mentioned, at particular times, and higher when the demand becomes urgent. No people under Heaven know better how to manage those matters than the Chinese, who are deeply addicted to trade, and are the most determined speculators in the world. There are a number of fine flavoured high priced teas, sold at Canton on the spot, which are very rarely exported, but consumed at home, as at Bordeaux, in France, there are several very high flavored wines that are drunk there and rarely sent out of the country. The Chinese most generally drink their tea without sugar or milk, upon the leaves in a cup with a cover which they frequently take off, to regale their olfactory nerves with the odour of the tea, as well as to prevent its becoming too strong. Hot water is generally poured on the same leaves until all their flavour and strength is extracted. This is by far the most economical mode of drinking tea, as well as preventing its acquiring that strong, bitter, and astringent taste, that it often has when drawn in a teapot, and particularly one that is made of metal. This is the beverage principally used in China to quench thirst both by rich and poor, and it is always drunk warm, even in the heat of summer. The Chinchas people from a district of the province of Tokien, of that name, are the only Chinese I ever saw who drunk cold water. It is seen by this account, that from four genera or stocks, are derived the various species of black and green teas which are found at the Canton market. The difference of quality in the several sorts, is evidently owing to the different seasons of gathering them, and sometimes likewise in the curing. Some are plucked just as they burst forth, with the down upon the leaves, as the Picho; others later, when the leaves expand, and some are cured by rolling them in the fingers with rice water and drying them on copper sheets. Others, again, are scented with flowers, and prepared also by hand in the nicest manner. All these different preparations and methods of curing and seasons of gathering, must produce a corresponding variety of qualities, even from the same tree. The last process the tea undergoes, and that is practised with all sorts indiscriminately, is firing. This is done by putting the tea into cylinders of sheet iron, and turning them round gradually before a hot fire, so as to toast them until they become perfectly dry. Tea never gives out its odour well, until after it has undergone this process, that finishes it and renders it fit to be packed in boxes immediately. Care is taken also in packing, not to do it if possible in damp weather, and in a place where the atmosphere is not perfectly dry and warm, so as to preserve it from losing its crispness. The first thing a Chinese tea tryer does, is to press, or rather crush some of the tea in his hand, to see whether it has lost its fire, and then he blows his breath strongly upon it, and afterwards applies it close to his nose. This is only to know whether the tea is fresh and well flavored. To ascertain its real value, he weighs a certain portion very nicely, and draws it in a covered cup of milk-white China ware, where it stands until it is cold, to show him the colour; but whilst hot, he tastes and smells it, to get the flavour. He is likewise very particular in having good water, and that it is boiling hot.* In taking leave of this subject, I must beg your indulgence for having been perhaps too minute in my descriptions; but I have [* Moreover, the kettle should never be used for any other purpose. NOTE, not by Dr. Johnson. ED. P. F.] purposely mentioned every thing I could recollect that is likely to give any insight into the manners and customs of this extraordinary people. If I have attributed to their government, or the nation, a character they do not deserve, my ears and eyes deceived me, for I could not discover, with all my care, the slightest indications of that proud preeminence which they assume over Europeans, and which the Jesuits and others are so prone to concede to them. On the contrary, they exhibit a most deplorable contrast to every thing that is great, wise, noble and honourable; and their government, which has been so highly extolled, is the impure source from whence the black stream of vice flows to infect the whole nation. I therefore conclude, with repeating that I believe the Chinese generally, to be naturally deficient of courage; but in other respects, they are an excellent, mild, well-disposed people, who, under a good government, might be made most valuable subjects, and probably, by the force of education, good soldiers. At present they are literally a flock of sheep, in comparison with Europeans, and their armies of millions would be as easily routed and slaughtered. PATIENCE. Ir what we suffer has been brought on us by ourselves, it is observed by an ancient poet, that patience is eminently our duty, since no one ought to be angry at feeling that which he has deserved. If we are conscious that we have not contributed to our own sufferings, if punishment falls upon innocence, or disappointment happens to industry and prudence, patience, whether more necessary or not, is much easier, since our pain is then without aggravation, and we have not the bitterness of remorse to add to the asperity of misfortune. He that shall walk with vigour three hours a day, will pass, in seven years, a space equal to the circumference of the globe. |